The Diary of an American Au Pair : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Do try to speak as we do
Review: What fun, what fun. Originally this novel was published under the title "Do Try to Speak as We Do" which is much more wonderful, but I have a hunch that the commercial success of "The Nanny Diaries" inspired the publisher to make a few changes. Regardless, this a great book. The situations in which poor Melissa finds herself are quite wonderful. Recently fired and unsure about her fiance, Melissa takes a job as the au pair for the most horrendous woman ever (she truly is a deliciously evil boss). The inevitable culture clashes are but one small part of this complex story, told with a clever turn of phrase. This novel is more of a buildingsroman (sorry, a term left over from high school english classes...refers to a coming of age story-my apologies to all my excellent teachers if I've remembered that incorrectly, it's not their fault *smile*) than anecdotal cultural and child rearing story (although there's plenty of that, too). Melissa, because of or in spite of her often horrendous living conditions (the tortures of bath time alone have made me SO appreciative of my hot water heater), finds herself during her year abroad. Jolly good show!!